Changing Lives with One Million Mentors

Following the successful launch of a national initiative to support individuals with personal and professional development, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training is providing a further opportunity for experienced, inspirational mentors to help young people improve their career development through mentoring support.

One Million Mentors (1MM) offers young people high quality guidance and the opportunity to develop their career.   By taking part more young people grow their skills, knowledge and confidence to make informed choices about their futures.

The unique opportunity connects young local talent with an expanding network of trained, volunteer mentors who are working, retired or on a career break, harnessing and sharing their experience and expertise. The programme boosts support and advice for young people in the areas of education, employment and social action.

Commenting on the success of the mentoring programme, Sarah Williams, Training Manager at Chamber Training said: “Mentoring can provide a much needed intervention and 1MM proves that this works extremely well.  The mentors support individuals for one hour per month, for up to 12 months either at Chamber Training’s offices in Radford, Coventry or the workplace.  At Chamber Training, the Directors and Staff are instrumental in identifying suitable mentees for the 1MM programme. 

“One example of how 1MM can change lives is demonstrated by one of Chamber Training’s former Early Years Care Apprentices, Chelsea-Lea Gallagher who took part in the first year.  Chelsea was offered a place on the One Million Mentors programme and was guided by her mentor, Gurmeet Dhillon. As a single parent who works full time, Chelsea was often challenged by the volume of work and impending deadlines.  She was keen to discuss the steps she needed to pursue in order to achieve her long-term goal of becoming a social worker.

“The support and guidance offered by Gurmeet was invaluable to Chelsea’s progress in securing a position on early years’ care and education bachelor’s degree for 2020.  She will be an absolute asset to the course and will no doubt thrive from the challenge.   The 1MM programme also helped Chelsea to achieve strong recognition as Children’s Care Apprentice of the Year in 2019,“  Sarah concluded.

To find out more about becoming a mentor or mentee on the 1MM programme, contact Sarah Williams at Chamber Training on 024 7623 1122 or enquiries@cw-chambertraining.co.uk  www.onemillionmentors.org.uk

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Photo 1 – The mentors for 1MM new cohort. 

 Photo 2 – Chelsea-Lea Gallagher